Handicap computer



Sept 17, 1957 T. E. MEAD 2,806,650

` HANDICAP COMPUTER Filed Feb. 16, 195e UNDER PAR-vl zug/@25 un -Ac x l I A l/ENTOR:

'M Jr QW f Unite States Patent Ohice 2,806,650 Patented Sept. 17, 1957 HANDICAP COMPUTER Theodore E. Mead, Wilmette, Iil.

Application February 16, 1956, Serial No. 565,802

4 Claims. (Cl. 23S-88) This invention relates to a handicap computer, and is particularly useful in computing a golf score handicap.

An object of the invention is to provide an eticient and effective device for the rapid and accurate calculation of a handicap through the dialing of a series of golf scores, etc. A further object is to provide apparatus which may be compactly folded and then, when desired, unfolded to a slanting position convenient for the dialing of golf scores and the like while recording, through the use of an adapter shield, the handicap, the adapter shield relating the handicap to the known course rating. Yet another object is to provide a score indicator mechanism for automatically selecting a handicap based upon a series of scores, or the like. A still further object is to provide in such an apparatus means for adapting the computer to courses of diierent course ratings and to unusual situations where players play under par or have exceedingly high scores, etc. Yet another object is to provide a computer which is complete in itself, carrying a stylus for dialing numbers and providing a structure which may be slanted to an easel-like position for operation and then moved to a compact, book-like position for transportation. A still further object is to provide in such a structure means for supporting a dialing disk for accurate movement, while at the same time providing marginal support of the disk adjacent the points of dialing. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is `a perspective view of a computer device embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 2 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3, an enlarged top plan view of the apparatus, a portion of the front plate being broken away; Fig. 4, a sectional detail view, the section being taken as indicated f,

at line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5, a broken sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

In the illustration given, designates a base plate equipped at its sides with upwardly-extending ledges or flanges 11 and provided at its bottom with resilient knobs or legs 12. The base 10 is also preferably provided near its rear with a pair of upwardly-extending knobs or projections 13 adapted to serve as stops for a hinged supporting bracket 14.

The hinged supporting bracket 14 is provided at its top with outwardly-turned ends secured within hinges 15 of the front plate 16. The front plate 16 is provided with side flanges 17 and a rear flange 18, and the hinges 15 are preferably formed by striking inwardly segments of the rear flange 18 about the feet of the frame or bracket 14.

The front plate 16 is pivotally secured at its lower front end to the side anges 11 of the base plate 10 by means of the pivot screw hinge pins 19 so that the front plate may swing to an inclined position, as shown 1n Figs. 1 and 2, or, upon swinging the frame 14 upwardly,

the front plate may swing downwardly to a collapsed position with the side Walls 17 of the front plate enclosing the side walls 11 of the base plate 10.

The front plate 16 is provided along one side with an arcuate slot 20. On the inner side of the slot is a scale 2l. consisting of numbers which are applicable to golf scores, the numbers running in sequence from 73 up to 1349. it will be understood that these numbers may be varied, as desired. At the lower end of the slot 20 is a second scale 22 appearing above the words Course Rating, and this scale comprises the numbers 70 to 75, it being understood that such numbers may be varied also as desired. At the top of the arcuate slot near the center of plate 16 is a third scale 23, in which the numbers l to 5 are provided adjacent the words Under Par. The three scales 21, 22 and 23 lie adjacent the arcuate slot 20, in the positions indicated.

The plate 16 is provided, at a point inwardly of the scale 22 and of the scale 21, with an enlarged rectangular slot or opening 24 providing a window through which numerals may become visible, as will be later described.

One major problem involved in the computing of handicap scores for golf players hinges upon the fact that different golf courses have diiferent course ratings. In order to provide the proper handicap for a particular course, it is necessary that the handicap be iigured upon the particular course rating as a base. In order to provide a computer which may be employed for the diierent courses, I provide an adapted shield 25 which provides at its inner side two windows 26 and 27, through which handicap figures can be observed, while at the same time it provides a marker ledge or line 28 which is adapted to be aligned with a starting point on a rotatable disk 29 and also with the course rating of the scale 22. To render the shield effective for automatic computation based upon the course rating, I provide the lower portion of the front plate 16 with a plurality of spaced threaded openings 30 adapted to receive screws 31 and 32 carried by the shield 25. By this means, the shield can be readily placed in position to bring the line 28 into alignment with the known course rating of the particular course, and thereafter the operation of the device is accurate in computing handicaps for such a course.

The computer disk 29 is rotatably mounted upon pivot member 30 and is frictionally secured in position by the spring disk 31 and the screw 32. The screw 32 also secures a laterally-extending arm or strap 33 which threadedly engages the screw 34 at its outer end. Mounted upon screw 34 is a `collar 35 having a supporting ange 36 adapted to support the outer end of the disk 29 when the same is being pressed downwardly by a stylus 37.

The disk 29 is provided with a circumferential row of spaced openings 38 adapted to receive the end of a stylus, so that the disk can be rotated by the stylus. The disk is provided at one edge with a starting line indicated by the numeral 39, and when the computing begins, the starting line is brought into exact alignment with the marker edge 28 of the shield 25.

The handicap of the golf player is indicated by a series of numerals visible through the windows 26 and 27. The inner series of numerals, which are designated by the numeral 40, is shown in Fig. 3, and the numerals here indicate the handicap in the instances where the scores are high and the disk 29 is rotated more than once. The lower handicaps are indicated in the annular column designated by the numeral 41, and such numerals apply when the disk 29 is rotated less than once during the dialing often scores. The ldialing is accomplished suitably by the stylus 37, which is preferably held by the spring finger 42 against the side flange 11 when the device is not being actively used, as shown best in Fig. l.

Operation In the operation of the device, the starting line 39 is brought into alignment with the marker edge 28 of the adapter shield 25 and at the same time the shield 25 1s secured in a position in which the line 28 is in alignment with the rating of the particular course for which the handicaps are to be computed. If, for example, the course .rating is 73, the adapter plate 25 is secured in the posmon shown in Fig. 3. With the starting line 39 1n allgnment also with the edge 28, the operator now dlals consecutively ten selected gross scores, holding the stylus perpendicular to the dial 29. When exactly ten scores have been dialed, the correct handicap appears in the window 26 or the window 27. As stated, if the dial has made less than one revolution, the right-hand window 27 is observed, while if the dial has made more than one revolution, the left-hand window 26 is read. In actual operation, the operator knows generally from the scores dialed which window to observe.

Occasionally, scores are made under par, and to accommodate the device for such lower scores, there is provided theupper scale 23, and from this scale it is easy to dial back the number of strokes under par. Thus the number of strokes under par are actually subtracted by the rearward dialing of the disk 29. For occasional scores over 130, the operator will dial 130 and then dial the number of excess strokes, either separately, or by adding them to the next score.

The disk 29 remains always in the position to which it has been dialed by reason of the friction plate 31, while at the same time the outer edge of the disk is constantly supported by the ange 36 of the collar 34 adjacent the area where the greatest amount of dialing occurs. If desired, additional supports for the outer edge of the disk 29 may be provided. The accuracy of the dialing operation is further increased by thus supporting the outer edge of the disk 29 and maintaining it close to the front plate 16 during the dialing operations. Such support is provided even though the front plate may be swung upwardly to the inclined position shown best in Figs. 1 and 2, in which position the actual dialing can be most effectively carried on. After the computations have been made and the device is no longer needed, the supporting bracket 14 may be swung inwardly upon its hinges at the upper end of the front plate 16 and the structure may be collapsed into a flat compact arrangement for storing or transportation.

While, in the foregoing specication, I have set forth a' specific structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the Aart without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a golf handicap computing device, a front plate having thereon an arcuate slot and a scale having stroke numbers arranged sequentially adjacent the slot and having also on the other side of the slot a course rating scale, an adapter shield having a marker edge extending over said slot and adapted to be aligned with points on said course rating scale and being provided along its inner side with a plurality of windows arranged inwardly of said slot, an inner disk rotatably mounted upon said front plate and having a circumferential series of spaced holes exposed through said slot as the disk rotates, said disk having inwardly of said holes circular rows of numbers in radial alignment with said holes and adapted to be exposed through the said windows as the disk rotates,

the holes of said disk being adapted to be engaged by a stylus for the rotating of said disk, and means for supporting the outer edge of said disk as it rotates.

2. The structure of claim l, in which the disk is engaged by a spring plate to maintain the same frictionally in a set position.

3. The structure of claim l, in which an under par scale is provided on a side of the slot opposite that of the first-mentioned scale for guiding reverse rotation of said disk.

4. In a `golf handicap computing device, a front plate having thereon an arcuate slot, scale numbers along one side of said slot, scale numbers along the opposite side of said slot at each end of said slot, an adapter shield alignable with the scale numbers at the lower end of said slot opposite said first-mentioned numbers and having spaced windows inwardly of said slot, a disk pivotally mounted upon said front plate on the inner side thereof and having a circumferential row of holes exposed through the arcuate slot of said front plate, said disk having also circular columns of numbers alignable with the windows of said adapter shield, a spring plate engaging said disk, a strapextending laterally from the center of said disk, screw means urging said inner strap end and said spring plate against said disk, a collar supported by the outer end of said strap, said collar providing a flange engaging the outer edge of said disk, and means securing said strap and collar to said front plate.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 328,221 Hood Oct. 13, 1885 1,046,433 Bishop et al Dec. l0, 1912 V1,285,941 Church Nov. 26, 1918 2,462,598 vBlodget Feb. 22, 1949 

